The Chairman of Ejemekwuru Customary Court in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nnaemeka Ugboma, reportedly murdered by some unknown gunmen.
According to reports, he was killed by the gunmen who operated in motorcycles, while presiding over a court session on Thursday, February 2, 2023.
The incident brought the court sitting to an abrupt end as lawyers, court staff and litigants fled.
The killing of the jurist who hailed from Nnebukwu community in Oguta LGA caused panic in Ejemekwuru community as natives and residents alike fled their homes.
One of the sources said,” The jurist was a law graduate of 1991 set. He was killed in his court while sitting. His killers came with motorcycles. They came into the court, dragged him out and shot him dead, and drove off.
“His corpse was there as people in court fled. The whole thing is confusing because nobody knew any reason while they killed him. He was from the Nnebukwu community in Oguta LGA here.”
When contacted, the chairman of the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ugochukwu Allinor, who confirmed the killing said that the branch would communicate the public on its actions in regards to the incident.
The spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, did not take his calls when contacted and he had yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile number as of the time of filing this report.
In a related development, an Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday, ordered that a popular Tiktok skit maker, Murja Kunya, 24, be remanded in a correctional centre over alleged defamation.
The defendant, who lives in Hotoro Tishama Quarters Kano, is charged with three counts of defamation of character, injurious falsehood and criminal intimidation.
Prosecution counsel Lamido Sorondinki told the court that the defendant committed the offence on January 29, on her WhatsApp Status.
He alleged that on the same date the defendant defamed the character of Aisha Najamu and Ashiru Mai-Wushirya, on her WhatsApp Status and shared it to the public.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendant made an injurious statement against the complainants and threatened them in Hausa language.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 391 and 393 of Kano State Shari’a Law.
Defence counsel Yasir Umar-Musa, made a bail application pursuant to sections 35 and 36 of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 as amended,168 and 172 of Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2019 Kano.
Presiding Judge Abdullahi Halliru failed to rule on the bail application but ordered the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Center and adjourned the matter until February 16, for hearing.
Ms Kunya is also standing trial before the Upper Shari’a Court over alleged breach of public peace and indecent act.
The prosecutor, Mr Sorondinki told the court that on August 30, 2022, a direct complaint was lodged by Barrister Muhd Ali Hamza and seven others at Upper Sharia Court, Bichi, Kano, to direct Kano Commissioner of Police to investigate the defendant alongside other Tiktoker s.
He alleged that between 2021 and 2022 the defendant conspired with colleagues; Mr 442, Safara’u, Dan Maraya, Amude Booth, Kawu Dan Sarki, Ado Gwanja, Ummi Shakira, Samha Inuwa and Babiana, all now at large.
